Thousands have been killed and injured, many of them women and children. Close to 1.7 million people in Gaza have been forced from their homes, according to the UN agency for Palestine refugees.
Over half now live in overcrowded UN facilities. At the same time, the lack of water, food, medicine and other necessities is great – and the hospitals close to breaking point.
In the midst of all the suffering, the negotiated ceasefire has given the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip a little respite.
“Happy about the truce”
At a school in Khan Yunis, a town with an adjacent refugee camp in southern Gaza, the ceasefire has given displaced children a rare chance to sing and play.
– I am so happy about this truce, that it is not a war, says Gilnar Ahmed Reuters.
More of the hostages have also been able to be released at the same time that, among other things, fuel and aid deliveries have reached more, also in the north, states the UN.
– What we have seen in recent days is that people have had some time to breathe, to be able to stand in a food queue, and try to find some form of help, says Frida Lagerholm, communications manager at Doctors Without Borders.
– Many have also tried to find their relatives, dig up their dead family members and so on. But the situation is still dire.
Not enough
Since the start of the ceasefire, the United Nations Food Program (WFP) has delivered food to more than 250,000 people in Gaza and fresh bread to an estimated 100,000. However, the increased number of shipments is not enough to meet the level of hunger being witnessed.
– It has been a big change, but we need more time, says Carl Skau, deputy executive director and operational manager of WFP, to SVT Nyheter.
Both WFP and Médecins Sans Frontières emphasize that the most important thing right now is a continued ceasefire.
– There is still a shortage of everything. What we see, which comes in, is absolutely not enough, says Frida Lagerholm.